New Ulm man to battle in court for right to use medical marijuana

NEW ULM – A New Ulm man charged with growing and selling marijuana will argue in court that he has a constitutional right to make his own health decisions, according to his attorneys.

Calvin P. Johnson and Elizabeth Levine of Mankato, said in a press release Saturday that John Hansen II “is fighting for his personal, individual right to use an effective remedy to treat his unmitigated and enduring anxiety… Through using marijuana, Jon gains benefits which he does not gain by any other means.”

“Jon will show that this government lacks the power to ban marijuana,” the press release said.?The attorneys said the 9th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reserves rights to the people “for our self determination, including our right to a healthy lifestyle.”

Hansen’s next court appearance is a brief hearing scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, at 8:30 a.m. in the Brown County Courthouse.

The attorneys claim the State of Minnesota is wrong to classify marijuana as a Schedule I drug, a classification reserved for drugs that have no accepted medical value.

There is a bill pending in the Minnesota Legislature to legalize medical marijuana. The bill has been deadlocked, with opponents refusing to support it without the approval of Minnesota’s law enforcement agencies.